GASTROPATHIES IN THE LUNDEHUND .1. GASTRITIS AND GASTRIC NEOPLASIA ASSOCIATED WITH INTESTINAL LYMPHANGIECTASIA

The results from gross and microscopic examination of the stomachs of Lundehunds and examination of stomachs of control dogs from other bree ds were compared. Over a 13-year period, 12 of 14 autopsied Lundehunds have been diagnosed as having intestinal lymphangiectasia. In the pre sent study, histological examination revealed gastritis as manifested by an increase in the number of mononuclear cells infiltrating the lam ina propria in all the Lundehunds. The inflammation was chronic and re stricted to the fundic and body regions, except in one Lundehund where antral gastritis was also present. Computer-assisted morphometric ana lysis was used to quantify the increased number of mononuclear cells. Atrophy of mucosal fundic glands was prominent in most Lundehunds and mucous metaplasia was often present. Conventional morphometry revealed a significant decrease in the height of the gastric mucosa. A relativ e expansion in area of the basal part of the lamina propria in Lundehu nds with chronic atrophic gastritis corresponded to the observed incre ase in mononuclear cells and stromal elements. Primary gastric carcino ma with neoplastic cells infiltrating layers of the stomach wall was f ound in four Lundehunds. The high incidence of gastric carcinoma and t he consistent presence of gastritis in Lundehunds suffering from intes tinal lymphangiectasia suggest that these changes represent features o f a single pathogenetic process.